Losing teeth may not seem common, but it is. Studies show that by the age of 50, the average American has already lost 12 teeth. There are a lot of reasons that teeth are lost, and these can include:
- Tooth decay
- Injury
- Gum disease
Smoking also leads to tooth loss.
Caring for your teeth is a must, and it’s a habit that every parent should be sharing with their kids, too.
When you take good care of your teeth, you’ll:
- Reduce your risk of serious health problems. Serious health problems are linked to bad oral hygiene and dental health. Studies have shown a link between gum disease and diabetes, oral cancer, heart disease, dementia and rheumatoid arthritis. Periodontal disease impacts 66% of Americans over the age of 60. Premature death is also 12% higher for older women when they have periodontal disease. Tooth loss on its own increases the risk of premature death by 17%.
- Promote quality of life. Lost teeth can impact quality of life. When people loses their teeth, this can lead to not eating certain foods. You’ll also be at a higher risk of misaligned bites. Depending on the severity of the issue, a person’s misalignment may also lead to difficulty pronouncing words. All On Four (AO4) Dental Implants or dentures are an option that will keep misalignment to a minimum and allow for ease when chewing, too.
- Increase life expectancy. A person’s life expectancy is increased when a person has all of their teeth. A study shows that people that had all of their teeth at age 74 had a much higher chance to live to 100. The same study also found that people that lost teeth by age 65 has a higher risk of premature death.
Proper dental hygiene requires a person to:
- Brush at least twice per day. Proper brushing, which requires all four quadrants of the mouth to be brushed for 30 seconds each, is a must. The right brushing techniques will remove plaque and help fight against tooth decay.
- Floss at least once daily. Flossing is one of the dental routines that people dislike the most. Why? Flossing is time-consuming, and if not done right, you’ll hit your gums, causing pain. Water flossing is a great alternative that utilizes water to remove debris stuck between your teeth.
Improving your life expectancy is more than enough reason to start flossing and brushing daily. If you’re having trouble keeping up with your flossing or brushing routine, there are apps that can help you stay on track.
3 Apps That Help You Maintain a Brushing and Flossing Routine
Adults should already know to brush their teeth twice per day, but kids and teens have a tendency to forget these basic brushing requirements. Apps are available that make it easier for kids to stay on track.
- Brusheez. The Brusheez app is a toothbrush timer, and it’s designed to make brushing fun. Kids get to pick a little monster that helps them time their brushing, and a two-minute timer is started to make sure that your kids brush for long enough. The chosen monster is animated, and it is a fun way to keep your kids interested in brushing.
- Brush Teeth with Momo. Brush Teeth with Momo, a simple app that gets kids and parents brushing on a regular schedule. The app allows for customized brush times from 1.5 – 4 minutes. You can also brush Momo, the app’s mascot while you’re using the app. It’s a great, fun way to make brushing fun and interactive.
- Disney Magic Timer. The Disney Magic Timer adds Disney’s magic to brushing. When it comes to building healthy dental habits, the app keeps kids intrigued and eager to brush. The app is a collaboration with Oral-B and Crest to keep kids brushing. The only catch is that your child needs to use a Crest or Oral-B product to use the app.
It’s important to teach proper brushing techniques at a young age. Whether you’re 4 or 40, you can start brushing today for a healthier tomorrow. Scheduled visits to the dentist, daily brushing and flossing along with cleanings can ensure that you have less health risks associated with your dental health.
